California

San Francisco Settlement Ends Marriott Strikes

UNITE HERE Local 2 hotel union workers ratified an agreement with Marriott International to end its 63-day strike in San Francisco, the last city to settle after a series of strikes at Marriott properties across the U.S..

The ratification of the contract, by a vote of 99.6 percent on Monday, December 3, 2018, ends the eight-city, 7,700-worker strike. The striking workers will return to their jobs on Wednesday, December 5.

“This hard-fought contract sets a new and transformative standard for San Francisco’s hotel industry,” said UNITE HERE Local 2 President Anand Singh after the announcement of a tentative agreement earlier in the day.

“During more than two months on strike, hotel workers’ resolve never wavered, and neither did the support and solidarity of our community. Now it’s time for every hotel company to follow Marriott’s lead," he added.

Contract negotiations will soon begin for more than 5,500 San Francisco hotel workers at other companies; these workers have been without a contract since mid-August 2018. Details of the contract with Marriott, which will last through 2022, will be made available in days following the ratification vote.

According to UNITE HERE, the new contract addresses wage standards, healthcare coverage, and job security and safety concerns.

The San Francisco strike affected 2,500 union members and seven hotels: San Francisco Marriott Union Square, Palace Hotel by Marriott, W San Francisco by Marriott, Westin St. Francis Union Square by Marriott, San Francisco Marriott Marquis, Courtyard San Francisco Downtown by Marriott and St. Regis San Francisco.

The strike affected select Marriott hotels in Boston, Detroit, Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, California, and locations in on Oahu and Maui, Hawaii.

About the Author

Tyler Davidson has covered the travel trade for nearly 25 years. In his current role with Meetings Today, Tyler leads the editorial team on its mission to provide the best meetings content in the industry.